ARTIST STATEMENT

As an experimental photographer, my work strongly focuses on elements of pattern, shape, color, light and texture. Each project begins with a concept, born from personal experience. I like to experiment during the shooting process by adjusting my camera to create the style of image that I am looking for within a project, or by carefully editing more traditional photographs at my computer, or both.

Looking for truth in my work, each project begins with a simple idea that I keep a conscious focus on as I work -- often examining many different directions before the right one reveals itself to realize my initial concept. I believe that artistic integrity comes when an idea is not overly directed, but rather approached with an open mind and granted the space to grow. As writer/theologian Frederick Buechner wrote about the writing process, “it is important to not force your characters to march too steadily to the drumbeat of your artistic purpose,” but rather to leave “some measure of freedom for your characters to be themselves.” His words are synonymous with my approach to creating and allow me to freely approach my work and let it dictate its outcome.

BIOGRAPHY

Elisa Keogh is an award-winning artist and designer who primarily works with photographic images.

Born in England and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland during the height of political unrest, Keogh was drawn to the raw, underground street art that focused strongly on content. She found it to be powerful and inspiring and it ignited her passion to make art that carries a message.

At 19, Keogh arrived in the United States as an Au Pair. During this time she studied photography through Harvard University’s continuing education program and immediately knew that she had tapped into a piece of herself that would be important to her future.

Eventually, moving to New York, Keogh studied graphic design at The School of Visual Arts and Parsons School for Design and subsequently enjoyed a successful career in New York; first as a junior layout artist with the corporate design firm Hershell George Graphics and subsequently accepting the position of Art Director for the label, Arista Records. After the birth of her first child Keogh opened her own design studio in Manhattan, SeeHear Design and provided visual solutions to the music industry.

While at Arista, Keogh worked with many talented musicians. Her cover design for Annie Lenox’s “DIVA” album was nominated for a Grammy in 1993 and her poster design for the alternative rock band The San Francisco Seals was placed in the permanent design collection of the Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York. It was also while at Arista that Keogh’s interest in photography reignited as she collaborated with many creative photographers to capture the personalities of the musicians she worked with.

In 1998, following a move to Connecticut to raise her family, Keogh made the decision to close her design studio and place her creative focus on her photography. In 2004 she accepted a positon as assistant to fine art portrait photographer, Ben Larrabee, who inspired and encouraged her to exhibit her experimental photographs.

Keogh has also been active as a digital photography teacher since 2005, both as an artist-in-residence and after-school instructor in Norwalk Public Schools as well as to private students of all ages in her Norwalk, CT studio.

RESUME

Elisa Keogh has exhibited her photography throught Connecticut for the past 10 years.

Since 2005, in addition to exhibiting her work, Elisa continues to be active as a digital photography teacher, both as artist-in-residence and after-school instructor in Norwalk and Ridgefield, Ct., as well as to private students of all ages in her Norwalk, Ct. studio.

PRIOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Before exhibiting her fine art photography, Elisa was and accomplished graphic designer in New York City. She studied graphic designat the Shool of Visual Arts and Parsons School of Design in NYC (1982-1985), and accepted her first job at the corporate design firmHershell George Graphics as a layout artist (1985-1987). A year and a half later, Elisa was offered the position of Studio Manager, andsubsequently Art Director, at Arista Records, where she worked for 6 years (1987-1993).

Following the birth of her first child, Elisa left Arista to open her own design studio, SeeHear Design in Manhattan. Evenually moving herbusiness to Connecticut in 1995, Elisa began to scale down her clientelle and eventually closed her studio in 1997 in order to focus onher growing interest in photography.

While at Arista Records, Elisa was honored to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Art Direction for the Special CD Packaging forAnnie Lennox/s “DIVA” in 1993.

Also, in 1995, for Matador Records/SeeHear Design, Elisa’s poster for the alternative rock band The San Francisco Seals was placed inthe permanent collection of the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum in New York City.